‘Candidates in waiting’

    

Gothic Room in Masonic Hall. (GLNY photo)

Before the pandemic screwed up everything, my lodge had a dozen petitioners in waiting for the mysteries of Freemasonry. On Monday, at last, Publicity 1000 will bring eight of these gentlemen to see the Light by which Masons work.

Not gonna finesse the truth here; this is going to be logistically tricky. We’ll be at labor in the Gothic Room on 12.

At the dinner hour, we will retire to the second floor, to 2 East, to enjoy the Time of Refreshment together. The dining fee costs just $20 this time, which we collect only in advance. Click here to book your seat.

Magpie file photo

In other Publicity Lodge “news,” I shot this photo at Masonic Week 2010 at a time when Toye, Kenning, and Spencer endeavored to launch a Toye USA division to compete in America. This was five years before I became a member of the lodge, but I was interested in pursuing affiliation, and in fact was kicking myself long ago for failing to act then. Long story. Anyway, I wonder about the availability of these items, but recent attempts to learn from TKS are futile. You just cannot get a reply from this company.

     

‘Toye with you’

    


Membership in The Masonic Society

stimulates the intellect,

relaxes the nervous system,

and improves physical appearance.

The shiniest jewel among the treasures comprising Masonic Week’s social calendar undoubtedly is the banquet hosted by The Masonic Society, so our keynote speaker is the perfect fit. Bryan Toye, Chairman of Britain’s foremost manufacturer of Masonic regalia and jewelry, will speak. We are getting together Friday, February 11 at 6 p.m.

Toye, Kenning and Spencer has been manufacturing regalia and other garments and jewelry since 1685. The Magpie Mason personally recommends its Masonic wares, both fraternal supplies and personal items. The quality is superior to anything I’ve seen from the usual suppliers to American Masons; the manufacturing takes place in the United Kingdom. Regular readers of The Magpie Mason may remember the photo spread from last year.

More about Bryan E. Toye:

In 1956 Mr. Bryan Toye joined full time the family business of Toye, Kenning & Spencer Limited, spending the next ten years, learning the trade in London, the Midlands and overseas. In 1962 he was appointed Director of Toye, Kenning & Spencer Limited. In 1969 he was appointed Chairman Toye & Company PLC., Toye, Kenning & Spencer Limited, John Taylor Poston & Co. Limited and other subsidiary companies. He has also served as an independent Director on three other companies outside the Group. Bryan Toye is the grantee and through him, Toye Kenning and Spencer holds a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The Queen as Suppliers of Gold and Silver Laces, Insignia and Embroidery.

He also is a Past Junior Grand Deacon of the United Grand Lodge of England. Read more here. See more here.

Masonic Week is the period of annual meetings of a variety of York Rite-affiliated bodies: Allied Masonic Degrees, Knight Masons, Rosicrucians, and more. In fact, more seem to be added each year lately, as imports arrive from England. Takes place at the Alexandria Mark Hilton in Alexandria, Virginia.

While I would like to greet all readers of The Magpie Mason, it really does not make much sense to attend this event unless you hold memberships in the groups that meet there. I think the only open event is the Blue Friars Consistory meeting.

But if you do plan to go, then book your reservations now. Click here for the hotel and program information, and click here to make your dinner plans. Follow the instructions carefully because no tickets will be available at the door. The Masonic Society dinner costs $65 per person. Try the veal.
  

‘Bling and things’

Masonic Week 2010: Toye USA

The generous and gracious underwriter of what was to be The Art of Initiation is Toye USA, the brand new subsidiary of Toye, Kenning & Spencer, Ltd., maker of jewels and regalia for the British royal family for the past 325 years.

With a sizable display staffed by Michael Seay and Charles Toye himself, the firm introduced itself to the American Masonic market. Michael can be reached at:  mike.seay@toye.com

Bro. John and Bro. Christopher check out the goods at Toye USA’s display at Masonic Week 2010 earlier this month. (More on Bro. John and his wares tomorrow.) And yes, that is a miter in the background!

I have bad news for the existing suppliers of Masonic regalia and supplies: Toye USA is going to clobber you. Simpson, Klitzner, Luther, LAFSCO, et al. have been selling inferior goods at premium prices for years, but now you have a competitor who will take your clientele away by delivering beautiful products at competitive prices. Oh, and their wares are manufactured in Britain, not China.

The photos speak for themselves:

As above: The Master Mason apron frequently seen in lodges in Britain, and increasingly in the United States, in lodges that are allowed to choose their own regalia without a uniformity mandated by their grand lodges. The brethren of John’s Lodge No. 1 in New York City wear this apron.

So below: Another such lodge is Lodge Vitruvian No. 767 in Indianapolis, Indiana, which adopted several characteristics of the European Concept movement. Note the officer collar as well. (Sorry for the shadow. Unavoidable, thanks to the nearby window.)

As above: The English Royal Arch grand rank apron. Also seen elsewhere in the English-speaking Masonic world. Please do not think that Toye provides only English regalia. They specialize in bespoke craftsmanship, and will make your regalia according to your specifications.

So below: You didn’t think I’d miss the 18° apron of Rose Croix, did you?

Two aprons – Top: Mark Master Mason. Bottom: Royal Ark Mariner.

Collars, clockwise from right: Rose Croix, Kadosh & another Rose Croix.
Below: Close-up shot of Knight Kadosh collar.

Above: A variety of Ark Mariner, Order of Secret Monitor, Royal Arch,

Rose Croix, Royal Order of Scotland and other interesting specimens.

Above and below: Assortments of breast jewels and badges.

Toye USA makes custom pieces for lodges. Above: Publicity Lodge No. 1000 in New York City commissioned these jewels and cufflinks for its members. Mounted on the card at top are lapel pins in the style worn by the Masonic Rosicrucians: a simple round pin on a protruding rosette. Red is for Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2, and orange is for Holland Lodge No. 8, both in the First Manhattan District of the Grand Lodge of New York.

As above: Cufflinks in the blue of Craft Masonry.

So below: The rainbow of Royal Ark Mariner.

Actually, these photos do not speak well for themselves. The lighting was impossible, due to the display tables being set next to the windows, resulting in all kinds of shadows and yellow glare. And besides, one truly must hold these objects. There is a tactile pleasure to be enjoyed. The weight of the metals, and the lustre of their colors and enameling. The thickness of fabrics, and intricacies of embroidery. The faithfulness to symbols, and creativity of designs. Really wonderful.

P.S.     I hate the word bling. Hate it.